Rumbo al Norte 2020

Purity, etherealness and precision are the words to describe this wine. Just like the rest of Comando G’s range of garnachas, this is serious, airy and dangerously drinkable, yet Rumbo al Norte is more mineral and precise, more seductive, affectionate and pure, but probably a little less austere, with naturally juicy and herbal raspberries and firm tannins. Great succulence and brightness. Delicious now, like the rest of the range, but it will be interesting to see how this ages. Drink now through to 2040.

I hate a score of 99+, and I thought I'd never use it, but I'm using it in this 2020 Rumbo al Norte, as it's impossible to split hairs and reflect the nuance of this wine, which is above the 2019 vintage but does not quite reach the level of the 2018 or 2016, so the only thing left in between is a 99+. The grapes were pristine and perfect, and they got a little more of them, so they aged the wine in a 1,200-liter oak foudre. The wine is super pale, floral with notes of decayed rose petals, musk and herbs (tomato vine), with lots of cleanliness despite the initial faint reduction. It has energy and fine tannins that are gentler than those from Navatalgordo. This is a wine of peace, harmony and complexity, a wine that feels very complete. 1,406 bottles and 50 magnums produced. It was bottled in March 2022.